9/11 Short Stories

Birds and stars were flying right above me. I sat there looking at them for a while. Still squeezing the ball for five seconds and releasing for three. I could not think of anything my head felt fuzzy, so I continued to look at the birds and stars despite that these were warning signs. Somebody was right beside me I could not make out who. Perhaps, I should tell him. I debated it until it just slipped out of my mouth, “Heya, dude, I am feeling a lit- little lightheaded here.” My thoughts were racing now, Did he hear me? Wouldn’t they do something? Do they know what to do? Should I try again? Okay the most logical thing to do is to try and tell him again, he must of not heard me, he wouldn’t just leave me here. Though I decided that I was going to tell him, my head was still fuzzy, I continued to look at the birds and the stars. Wait, why am I here? What

am I doing?
A few hours before…
“Did you bring your licence this time? Lili. You know we cannot allow you to - ”
“Yes, I brought one this time. It isn’t really my current drivers licence. It is my learner’s permit, but it has all the information you need.” I cut off the lady at the desk, whom I recognized as another student.
“Okay, bring it here and I will type in the information. You can get it back when you are done reading this pamphlet.”
“Thank you very much.” I took the pamphlet and sat down in one of the chairs. Looking around I saw six or seven students around me. I really didn’t want to read the pamphlet, but I should probably do so anyways. I look at it and see the Red Cross symbol plastered on it. I start to read it, What to do before giving blood: Read this pamphlet, eat lots of iron-enriched foods, and drink lots of water… Blah blah blah, they really should of sent this out to the volunteers a couple of days ago instead of you know the day of a couple minutes before... Let’s skip to the next part. What to do during: Fill out the questionnaire, listen to the instructions of the workers, tell the workers when you feel lightheaded or nauseated… Simple enough... What to do afterwards: Stay within the room for at least fifteen min-
“Lili! You are here too? I gave blood earlier, but I am here to help Claudia not freak out during her’s.” I look up confused and am faced with a giant human being, I believe their name is John, standing to a skinnier lady who I assume is Claudia. At this point I wasn’t even sure why I was here. Claudia was supposed to be the bravest person in the school. She played football with the boys, and she stood up to all the bullies. I know I wouldn’t be able to do this. I will either be deferred for a low iron-count or faint during the extraction. If Claudia could not do this without somebody beside her. I would not be able to do it EVEN IF I had somebody beside me, which I don’t. Perhaps I should just get up and leave.
“What’s the matter Lili?” John asked, confused as to why I stood up. I feel awful about not replying to his earlier question, but still ignore him.
“Hey, I am going to use the restroom. I’ve read all the materials by the way.”
“Okay, you would be after these -” I walk out of the gym not even bothering to listen to her. She probably said something to the amount of three to five people ahead of me. Why does it matter? Your not coming back, remember? Claudia can’t even do it. Just hide in the bathroom for the rest of the day. I went to the bathroom and tried to push this voice out of my head. I should not base my decision on somebody else. It is not their experience that determines mine. Yes, their experience would be somewhat similar; however, they most definitely are not the same. Especially in this situation, everybody responds differently to giving blood. Terry, a star athlete that everybody loves, has been lying down for at least 40 minutes.
“Did you hear?” Came a high squeaky voice from inside the bathroom. They must have crept in while I was having a panic attack.
“Hear what?” This voice sounded like a growl, almost.
“Quinne fainted.” Replied the squeaky voice. Quinne had her blood drawn earlier today during my second hour. It’s fifth hour now, as I hear the final bell ring signalling the students to change classes. I hear footsteps click away from the bathroom and their voices become softer and softer. They must be heading to their next class. Fudge! I need to go back to the gym anyways. Might as well, you know, have them draw my blood while I am there.
A few minutes later, I found myself back at the gym. “Lets see who is next? Stuart, Lili? Is there a Lili Stuart in here?” I look up and see a stocky man who is looking at the four people sitting and waiting. Perhaps if I don’t answer he would just move on. Now don’t be stupid Lili you know they will do the best they can. Plus, you can do this, just trust yourself and not Alice. Alice is the name I gave to the little tiny voice in my head, some people would call this anxiety. She has been popping up since when I was a little kid, as a little kid I was scared of anybody named Alice, and that is what little me thought would be the perfect name for this. I did not know what anxiety was back then. “I repeat is there a Lili Stuart here?” The stocky man repeated for what seemed like the fifth time as I gained the courage to answer.
“Yes, I am here.” I get up and follow the man. He checked my blood pressure, haemoglobin levels, and my information.
“Alrighty you can go sit down on that table over there. Risa will be right with you.” I sit at the table there was nothing for me to do. Nothing to cure me of Alice. What would happen if you fainted? Nobody would help you. You know that right? Ohhh you didn’t? Well you’re just being stupid now too.
“Shut up Alice.” I mumbled underneath my breath.
“You’re Lili right? Who is Alice? You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want too. Are you ready?” The woman next to me must be Risa. She talked as fast as a cheetah and asked way to many questions for me to comprehend. She spent the next few minutes chattering away finding a good vein in my right arm. Finally, she stuck the needle in me. It burned like somebody shot acid into my arm, but the sensation soon went away. “Okay. So now, you are just going to breath and squeeze this ball for five seconds then release it for three and continue until you are done.” Risa went off to start somebody else, chatting away with them. Squeeze. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Release. 1, 2, 3. Squeeze 1,2,3,4,5. Release, 1,2,3. Squeeze. 1,2,3. Release, 1,1,3. Squeeze 3,4,5. Release. 1,2,3,4,5. Something’s not right. Is that birds? Stars? I thought I was inside?
“Heya, dude, I am fee- feeling a lit- little bit lightheaded here.” He didn’t answer me.
“Hey, dude! You should get over here and help her!” I tilt my head in the direction of the other voice. I don’t know how, I just knew it was John. The worker came and put me from a sitting position to a lying position.
“I know this will sound crazy tap your toes to the beat of the music. Remember to breathe.” The worker tells me what to do and puts cold towels on my forehead. Squeeze. 1,2,3,4,5. Release 1,2,3. Tap. Squeeze. 1, 2,3,4,5. Release 1, 2, 3. Tap. Squeeze 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Release. 1, 2, 3. Tap. Squeeze. 1, 2, 3, 4…
“BEEEEEEEEEP!” The machine next to me yells telling me I am done.

5. Release. 1, 2, 3. Tap. Squeeze. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
“Honey you are done. You can stop now. I will only take two tubes since you aren’t feeling well. John will you go get her an orange juice and a water.” Another worker came and told me. It did not register to me that the beep meant done. It would not even register to me if the machine grew arms and hit me over the head yelling done. I was so out of it.
I spend the next few minutes drinking my orange juice and water. I did it! I didn’t faint! The workers helped me. There was nothing that needed to be worried about. You here that Alice? I will NEVER listen to you again. All I need to do is trust myself and do something, and I will succeed. “Hey, Sam? Did we hit our goal of 30 people?” I yell at the student who checked me in.
“Yes. Yes. we did Lili. You were the 30th and we have three more still going. Thank you for donating.” Sam came over and gave me a clap on the back as she handed me my ID. I get up and start leaving the room. Feeling no pain from the needles, feeling only pride for what I have

done.